Jose Mourinho has done it again. The Special One led his AS Roma side to its first title since 2008 and the first UEFA trophy won in club history. The Giallorossi defeated Feyenoord, 1-0, in the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Tirana, Albania, on Wednesday. Nicolo Zaniolo scored the winning goal in the inaugural tournament in the 32nd minute that helped send Giallorossi fans into a frenzy.
The last time AS Roma won any silverware came in 2008 when they won the Coppa Italia under Luciano Spalletti. They also lost their previous two European finals at the hands of Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup and Inter Milan in the 1991 UEFA Cup. It took them 31 years to play another final, but this time the trophy is going back to Rome, where tens of thousands of fans watched the match inside the Stadio Olimpico. With the win, AS Roma have clinched a spot in next season's UEFA Europa League group stage, which you can stream directly on Paramount+.
This is Mourinho's fifth European final and trophy. He's never lost a major UEFA final as manager. He has been triumphant in each of the previous four – with Porto in the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 UEFA Champions League, Inter in the 2010 UEFA Champions League and Manchester United in the 2017 UEFA Europa League. He has, however, lost two UEFA Super Cups. For the Portuguese coach as well as Roma fans, Wednesday will go down as a an unforgettable night.
The first half wasn't exciting as we could expect from these two sides, but it produced the only goal of the night. Feyenoord tried to maintain possession time and Mourinho's side didn't take many risks. There were not many chances, with only three shots on target overall in the first 45 minutes. However, AS Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had just worked his way back to fitness, was forced to go off with an injury and was replaced by Sergio Oliveira. The 32nd minute gave us the opening goal of the match with Gianluca Mancini's cross fooling the covering defender and Zaniolo chesting it down before deftly flicking a shot over the onrushing goalkeeper. First chance, first goal for the Mourinho's side. Clinical.
After that, Feyenoord tried to put more pressure on the Giallorossi. The tone of the second half was completely different with Feyenoord pushing much more and AS Roma suffering quite a lot. The Dutch team had two big chances in the first 10 minutes and had two consecutive chances that resulted in a shot ricocheting the post. Rui Patricio put together a fantastic performance to keep his side in the game in the second half and secure the coveted trophy. Feyenoord keeper Justin Bijlow also stepped up with some massive denials on Jordan Veretout and Lorenzo Pellegrini, but by then it was too late for a response by his attackers.
The night went to Jose Mourinho, who is the only manager on the planet to say he's won the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League titles. If anyone is capable of guiding his team through knockout competitions, it's Jose Mourinho. He worked his magic yet again.
AS Roma are the first ever winners of the UEFA Conference League after beating 1-0 Feyenoord in the final. Jose Mourinho wins his first trophy as Giallorossi coach at his first year as manager of the club.
We are heading into the last minutes of the Conference League's final. AS Roma are getting closer to the trophy.
Few minutes after coming in, Jordan Veretout's attempt is saved by Bijlow. AS Roma finally had their first real chance of the second half. Twenty minutes to go until the end of the final.
Another huge chance for Feyenoord with Malacia, his shot is saved by Rui Patricio on the post once again. Another incredible chance for the Dutch team that is now pushing quite a lot.
Two incredible chances for the Dutch team but AS Roma keep the advantage. Feyenoord had two consecutive chances where they also hit the post, but Rui Patricio saved the second one after Til's attempt. What a start of the second half.
We're back in Tirana with the second half: AS Roma lead the match 1-0 after the goal scored by Zaniolo in the first half.
Jose Mourinho's team is ahead after the first half thanks to the goal scored by NIcolò Zaniolo. It wasn't a particularly exciting match until now with only two shots on target between the two sides but Giallorossi are now 45 minutes close to win their first UEFA's trophy ever.
In Rome the fans who are watching the match from the Stadio Olimpico are buzzing as well.
AS Roma are ahead: Zaniolo scores the opener after a mistake from the defense of Feyenoord. Mancini's cross fools the covering defender, and Zaniolo chests it down before deftly flicking a shot over the onrushing goalkeeper. First chance, first goal for the Jose Mourinho's side.
Not an exciting start of the match in Tirana. After twenty minutes still no concrete chances from both sides. Very intense match on the pitch but as of now not spectacular at all.
He was in doubt until the end and he started the final, but Mkhitaryan can't stay on the pitch for his injury and Mourinho is forced to an early change after 17 minutes with Sergio Oliveira coming in.
The first ever UEFA Conference League's final has started!
The opening ceremony has started, the two teams are entering the pitch. Few minutes left and the final will start.
Not only in Tirana, AS Roma fans gathered at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome where they will watch the match from the stands. Around fifty thousands fans bought the tickets to watch the game from the Olimpico.
Despite the injury and his absence in the last weeks, Mkhitaryan will start the final against Feyenoord. Jose Mourinho needed probably his experience upfront. Zaniolo as well is in the starting eleven.
AS Roma: Rui Patrício; Mancini, Smalling, Ibañez; Karsdorp, Cristante, Mkhitaryan, Zalewski; Pellegrini, Zaniolo; Abraham
Feyenoord: Bijlow; Geertruida, Trauner, Senesi, Malacia; Kokcu, Aursnes; Nelson, Til, Sinisterra; Dessers
Feyenoord will attempt to win their fourth title in a European competition, after winning the European Cup in 1969/70 and the UEFA Cup in 1973/74 and 2001/02; the Dutch side scored at least twice in each of their four games during those three finals (UEFA Cup 1973/1974 was played home and away).
Roma are seeking their first victory in a UEFA final, having lost their previous two – against Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup and Inter in the 1991 UEFA Cup. Feyenoord are bidding to make it four wins out of four in major UEFA finals, their first three having brought victories in the 1970 European Cup (v Celtic) and the UEFA Cups of 1974 (vTottenham Hotspur) and 2002 (v Borussia Dortmund).
